The Electricity Act Amendment Bill faces strong opposition from labour unions over its attempt to ban power sector strikes. NLC, TUC vow to resist the proposal
Electricity Act Amendment Bill has ignited fierce backlash from major labour unions, who say the proposed strike ban in Nigeria’s power sector is unconstitutional and oppressive.
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The bill currently before the National Assembly seeks to declare electricity generation, transmission, and distribution as essential services, banning workers from protesting unless under a formally approved Minimum Service Agreement. Violators risk up to ₦2 million in fines or five years imprisonment.
Labour groups including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) swiftly condemned the bill, describing it as an assault on worker rights and a violation of international labour conventions.
NLC President Joe Ajaero warned that the Electricity Act Amendment Bill, if passed, would be defied immediately.
“The day it’s passed is the day it will be violated,” he declared. This bill is unjust, unworkable, and violates ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which protect the right to organise and strike.”
He added that Nigeria’s existing Trade Union Act already covers essential services, requiring a mandatory two-week strike notice and intervention protocols by the Labour Ministry.
The new bill, he said, is a sectoral overreach aimed at silencing unions.
TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro echoed these concerns, stating the amendment undermines democracy and fundamental human rights.
“You don’t reform a sector by muzzling its workers, Toro said. “Strike action is not a privilege it’s a legal and moral right.”
Dominic Igwebike, Secretary-General of NUEE, said the bill is clearly meant to cripple union activism.
“This isn’t just about power workers. If allowed, it sets a dangerous precedent for every Nigerian worker including journalists and healthcare professionals.”
Labour leaders have vowed to mobilise public support, engage lawmakers, and submit a counter-amendment to preserve workers’ rights.
They insist that true reform must involve addressing systemic inefficiencies—not silencing those who expose them.
The Electricity Act Amendment Bill has also sparked warnings of a possible constitutional conflict between the federal and state governments, especially with the decentralisation of electricity regulation in the 2023 Act.
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As the debate rages, workers’ unions have made one thing clear: this bill will not go unchallenged.
Source: Read more at thesun.ng
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
